Almost half of cocolisap-infested trees treated – PCA

MANILA, Philippines - Almost half of the coconut trees infested with scale insects have been treated, according to the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).

At least 1,219,785 of the 2.8 million infested coconut trees in the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Quezon and the cities of Isabela and Basilan, have been cured as of Sept. 8, the PCA said.

PCA Quezon 1 manager Lanie Lapitan said the treated trees represent 93 percent of the 1.3 million targeted for treatment since the campaign started in June.

She said the treatment involves pruning and burning infected twigs and injecting trunks with the pesticide dinotefuran.

PCA Quezon 2 manager Mayeth Perez said a total of 455,992 coconut trees in Batangas, 60, 232 in Isabela City, and 424, 286 in Quezon have been treated.

The government has allotted P750 million for the implementation of the Scale Insect Emergency Action Program for this year.

Perez allayed concerns on the harmful effect of pesticides used in treating infested trees, saying they only use those certified by the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority.

Meanwhile, Cecille Manzanilla of the Department of Agricuture’s Crop Protection Center said around 5,000 mangosteen trees in Tayabas, Laguna and Mauban, Quezon are still infected with coconut scale insects.

She said that the government has no comprehensive plan to treat the infested trees, as they want to use  natural control agents. She cited the use of insects that are “natural enemies” of coconut scale insects.